Kona Wailua Wheat Ale

Kona Wailua Wheat Ale

The Kona Brewing Company still runs its flagship brewhouse out of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii which produced more than 10,000 barrels of beer in 2008.  After their partnership with the Craft Brewers Alliance Inc in October of 2010 the company began producing it’s bottled beer and mainland draft in the breweries in Portland, Oregon and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Check out our review of the Pipeline Porter for more information regarding the brewery.  For information on locating Kona beer if your area check out their website: Kona Brewing Company

See what Kona has to say about their Wailua. “Swimming in a fresh water pool at the base of a cascading waterfall is what we all imagine we would find in paradise. On Maui, follow the old Hana Highway and you will find such a place – Wailua Falls. This plunging cascade of clear water is the inspiration for our Limited Release Wailua Wheat Ale. This golden, sun colored ale has a bright, citrus flavor that comes from the tropical passion fruit we brew into each batch. Sit back, relax and enjoy paradise anytime.”

General Information

Style:    Wheat Ale

ABV:    5.4%

IBUs:    15.0

Color: Light yellow with very little white foam

Awards:   2011 GOLD MEDAL: FRUIT BEER CATEGORY, US Open Beer Championships

2009 GOLD MEDAL: WHEAT BEER CATEGORY, Portland Spring Beer & Wine Festival, Oregon

2004 BEST OF THE NORTHWEST/PACIFIC: FRUIT BEER CATEGORY, United States Beer Tasting Championships

2002 BEST OF THE NORTHWEST/PACIFIC: FRUIT BEER CATEGORY, United States Beer Tasting Championships

Mike’s Review

This beer came in a 12 oz brown glass bottle poured into a pint glass and is a very light yellow color. There was almost no head to this head and what was there dissipated quickly.  The aroma is a very clean and crisp fruity aroma with a strong fruity twist.  This beer has a clean and very complex flavor.  The taste starts out with a very light hoppy bitterness and progresses into a fruity sweetness in the middle of the taste finally progressing to a bitter fruit flavor at the end of your taste that lingers.  This is a different tasting beer in a good way that if you’re looking for something new then this is a must try.  This is a pretty good beer that I wouldn’t mind having again at all.

Matt’s Review

From the pour the aroma is like a traditional wheat ale with just a little bit of fruit. There is no head at all and the color of the beer is a very light gold. The first sip was very interesting. You can taste the wheat ale portion of it, but then you instantly get a rush of the passion fruit. If you want to try something new this is a different twist on ale.